Part Four:
"The Vengeful Knight"
Concurrent periods of relief exchanged with waves of radiating pain met Suzaku when he awoke three days after his ordeal.
He found himself in a medical bed, in a hospital, with an IV tube feeding a vein in his left arm, and a catheter inserted into his penis, for when he needed to go to the bathroom. Unconscious for three days, he must have needed to urinate; it went into a plastic bag attached to the side of the bed. It felt uncomfortable, and only contributed to his discomfort.
Zero had saved him, or he thought so. But he knew for a fact that Lelouch was at Ashford Academy, recently returned brainwashed with Geass, and under the supervision of his appointed guardian, who was also acting as his brother, replacing Nunnally. He had asked for confirmation on this as soon he had awakened, calling dispatch at HQ. Then who saved me? Who was it behind that mask? I could have sworn it was Lelouch. Or did I want it to be?
On a table stand next to bed were get well soon cards from his fellow comrades and other people, and a large stuffed cat toy with the appearance of Arthur from Gino.
His card said,
"I'm taking care of Arthur for you until you're better. He's well, and waiting for you. Oh, and I ordered a high tech security system for your house, my gift. I'm an Aristocrat, money grows on trees for me. I'll be installed before you get back. Get well, buddy!"
Gino.
But out of all the cards, Suzaku was saddened that there was nothing from Lelouch. He had probably never been told of the happenstance. Despite his mind erasure, Lelouch still remembered him. And if indeed it was Zero who rescued him, most assuredly, there would have been something from him, in code, that only the both of them would be privy. However, that would mean his memory had returned somehow, and it would've expose him. He would've had to be captured and brainwashed again. So, in retrospect, Lelouch was smart not to send anything.
A doctor entered Suzaku's private room carrying a computer pad. He was an older gentleman with glasses and white hair, wearing lab coat.
"Good morning, Sir Kururugi. I'm Dr. Reinhart," he said.
"Morning doctor," Suzaku replied.
"How are feeling?"
"As good as one can be in my situation."
"You went through a horrific ordeal, but I hear they caught the culprits. I hear they were Japanese."
Suzaku didn't reply. A few seconds went by, then he said, "That's privileged information."
"Really? Everyone's talking about it. There was even a press release." The doctor's eyebrows arched. "You mean you hadn't heard?"
Suzaku shook his head. "Despite what I see here, the cards and other items, I've had no visitors or dispatches informing me of such."
"Well, I'll let you handle that," the doctor said. "I'm here on another matter. And it's a serious issue."
"How much damage was done?" Suzaku said, as if expecting the worse.
The doctor looked uneasy for a moment, as if about to dispense bad news. He took a deep breath. And then affirmed Suzaku's worst fear. He explained the hospital's findings when Suzaku was first brought in and examined.
Suzaku swallowed hard, and felt like crying. But he stayed strong. "Thank you doctor for being honest with me."
"This person really tried to hurt you, and it appears he succeeded. We don't know yet if it's irreversible, only time will tell. However, we can try therapy. In situations like this, a good psychotherapist is also recommended."
At that moment, Gino walked into the room. In his arms was Arthur. Gino smiled, as Arthur leapt free and onto the bed. The cat meowed a happy hello, and Suzaku pet the feline on the head, faking a smile.
"Hi Suzaku, how are you doing?" asked Gino.
There was an eerie silence, then the doctor said, "I'll come back later."
Gino watched the doctor leave, then turned back to Suzaku. "Did I say something wrong?"
Suzaku sighed deeply. "Sit down, Gino, I have some bad news." Gino did, pulling over a near by chair.
And he told Gino what the doctor had explained to him.
Gino was outraged, and he stood up with clenched fists. Suzaku had never seen him so angry. "If you won't sign that bastard's death warrant, then I will!"
"Hachirou Chika said he wanted to hurt me, that I be the last of my lineage. I do have a cousin, but she and I haven't spoken in years." Arthur appeared to look at him sadly, and meowed in a similar fashion, as if sensing his master's despair. "And yet, why do I feel like I deserve this."
"No one deserves what this sicko did to you. He took away your ability to have children. For a man not being able to sire a son is..."
"Settle down, Gino. The doctor says it might be reversible," Suzaku said calmly.
"Get real, Suzaku. This stuff never is. He's made you impendent. You should be mad as hell. Remember what I told you about bottling your feelings. Get angry!"
"Hachirou Chika said it was the price I'd pay for my actions against my own people and for the murder of his brother."
Gino shook his head. "You're wrong, Suzaku. You haven't done anything wrong. Daisuke Chika tried to kill you and he was punished. Remember, no one should be punished for their achievements, especially you. You're a hero, Hachirou Chika is the villain. At present he's in the maximum detection centre at HQ. I'll have his death warrant sent over so you can sign it."
"I won't condemn one of my own people to death, no matter their crime."
"He's Japanese, so what! He tried to kill you!"
"No, he said he wasn't going to. He only wanted to hurt me, so I would share in his loss. But I lost Euphie, so I know how he feels. He seemed taken back when I told him I never sighed his brother's death warrant. He asked who. I never told him."
"Anya signed it, and you did the right thing not telling Hachirou, or he would've gone after her."
"I know," said Suzaku. "I'm conflicted, Gino. Hachirou Chika needs to pay for what he's done, but..."
"Stop being so soft! You wager too much on your emotions. Sometimes they can be your worse enemy."
"And sometimes they can be your best asset."
Gino sighed frustrated, sitting back down. Suzaku frowned, and then started to cry. "It hurts, Gino. You have no idea how much it hurts."
"I get the idea you're not just talking about what Hachirou Chika did to you," said Gino. "I know you miss, Princess Euphemia. We all do. Why don't you try to get some sleep. I'll order some warm milk."
Suzaku wiped tears from his eyes with his hospital gown sleeve. "Thanks. But there's still one mystery I need solved before I can rest easy."
"And what's that?" asked Gino.
"How did you find me?"
"That's a puzzling question. And I was hoping you could tell me."
Suzaku shook his head. "Zero," was all he said.
"Impossible. Lelouch's no longer a threat. And his costume was burned."
Suzaku explained what he had seen during the last couple of moments before he fell unconscious to Gino.
Gino was flabbergasted. "You were in pain, and the smoke, in combination with the sedative, you must have imagined it. A nurse attendant found you on the front steps of the hospital, no one knows how you got there."
"Then who rescued me? And how did this person know where I was? And why would they dress up as Zero?"
"A mystery that deserves to be solved, but may never will," remarked Gino. "Oh, by the way, when you were unconscious, I read some of your cards. Looks like you have a secret admirer. Tell me, who's Cee Cee?"
Suzaku had read the card, but he didn't have a clue.
One week later, he was released from hospital. And he paid a visit to HQ's detention centre, where Hachirou Chika was being held, awaiting his fate. He learned the guard that Gino had appointed had been stuffed into an old well on the property with his throat slashed. That's how Hachirou and his men were able to sneak into the house. If it wasn't for Arthur, Hachirou may have killed him in his sleep.
There was a public outcry from Eleven's for Hachirou's release. And protests happened throughout parts of the Eleven ghettos. It was decided a public execution was not prudent, especially after the public learned of Hachirou's relation to Daisuke Chika.
Suzaku stood in full Knights of the Round uniform looking through the bars of Hachirou Chika's cell. What Hachirou had done to him did indeed cause irrevocable damage. At first, he was in denial. But now, he accepted it.
Any hope of having children had been stolen away from him.
"Come to gloat, Kururugi?" Hachirou said, sitting on a cot. He smiled, almost amused. "My people are calling me a hero. Now you can't sire any traitorous sons or daughters like you."
Suzaku merely stared at him, keeping a relatively plain face. But he was angry. Gino said it was unhealthy to bottle up his emotions, but he didn't want to give Hachirou Chika the satisfaction of seeing him such.
"What, nothing to say?" Hachirou Chika tauted him, laughing. "I'll die a martyr. And Eleven's will hate you even more."
A man in a white lab coat joined Suzaku. Then two guards entered the cell, grabbed Hachirou, and forcefully stripped him down to his underwear, ripping the prison garb.
They held him in place, like some sort of exhibition piece, his dragon tattoo displayed for them to see.
"What do you think, doctor?" Suzaku finally said.
The doctor entered the cell, surveyed Hachirou, walking around him, looking at his body. He rubbed his chin, musing, nodding. "A very nice piece of artistry. Admittedly, Daisuke Chika could have been a recognized artist, if he wasn't foolish."
Hachirou folded his eyebrows. "What's going on? What are you doing?" his voice demanding.
The doctor stepped back and pulled out a small portable camera, taking pictures of the tattoo, front and back, then left the cell. "For propriety," he said.
Suzaku never entered, watching from the outside. "Can it be done, doctor?" he asked.
The doctor nodded. "It's a relatively simple procedure these days, like replacing cartilage or repairing lost bone, and there won't be any scarring. In fact, I can guarantee no trace will be left."
"What's he talking about?" said Hachirou Chika.
Suzaku looked at him with the hint of a sinister smile. "This is Dr. Eckhart," he explained. "He's a plastic surgeon."
"And why do I need a plastic surgeon?" It was then Hachirou's eyes widened with utter fear, and then started to struggle against the two guards, but to no avail. He was then dragged out of the cell. "No! You can't! It's all I have left of him!"
"You have your memories, that should be enough," Suzaku said coldly, facing him. "You should thank me, I've abstained your execution due to public sympathy. But you will pay for what you've done."
Hachirou Chika spat in Suzaku's face. Suzaku recoiled and wiped it off with a hand.
"I know how you feel about your brother. I feel the same way about someone I cared very deeply for who was also killed." He looked at Hachirou Chika with serious eyes. "What you did to me is irreversible. And now, I will return the favor."
"No! Please don't!" Hachirou cried as he was hauled away, struggling all the way. "Take anything else, take my life instead! I thought was so to be executed?"
"And whoever said you were going to die?" Suzaku said back.
Hachirou Chika's cries fell on deaf ears as he pleaded with Suzaku. Removing the last remnants of his brother was crueler than any death. In fact, it was a form of death. "Death isn't the only way a person can die," Hachirou had said. It was a prophetic statement, Suzaku thought. He then realized what he was doing was exactly like what the Emperor had done to Lelouch, erasing all memory of Nunnally. But he would not recant his decision.
Hachirou Chika was taken from the detection center.
Alone, tears began to form in Suzaku's eyes when he finally realized an absolute fact.
I've become the very thing I despise the most. Just like the Emperor, the man who invaded Japan and butchered hundreds of thousands of innocent people for his own means. I killed my father, betrayed my best friend, both for my own ambition. And now this. Gino's wrong, I am a villain.
To be continued...